09/01/2026
Growing up Albany meant having certain places that always felt familiar, and for me, few places capture that feeling better than this block on Madison Avenue.
The Madison Theatre has changed hands more times than I can count, but it always seems to find its way back as a movie theater. I still make a point to go whenever it reopens. In 1999, it was the site of the first movie I ever attended without an adult. Two friends and I were supposed to meet three girls from our school to see Man on the Moon. The girls never showed, but we laugh about it now and have all remained friends to this day.
Just a few doors down was Alibi's, where getting a fake ID past the doorman was a regular Wednesday night. Later, the space became The Point, where my wife and I had our first date. Today, it's home to Cafe Madison, a favorite breakfast spot for our family.
Junior's has been a neighborhood staple for as long as I can remember. It was where I celebrated my 21st birthday, and today I still stop in for lunch from time to time. Whether it was a Friday night or watching football on Sundays, it was always a place where you'd run into familiar faces.
This block has changed quite a bit over the years. Second only to Lou Bea's in Albany pizza history, Jeff's Pizza was at the top of my list. Mahar's transition to the Pour House kept the spirit of the space alive, but anyone who spent time there knows Mahar's offered a truly unique experience. I've even had the opportunity to represent businesses on the block, including O.N.E. Hair Artistry.
But no matter how much changes, whenever I'm on this stretch of Madison Avenue, I almost always run into someone I know. And for a few minutes, it's like we never left.
What Albany block, neighborhood, or business instantly brings you back?
